SPECIAL K— straight back to him
Kieffer’s the head boy as fan Gareth cheers his vital winner
KIEFFER MOORE had Gareth Bale on his feet applauding his first-half header as Wales continued their promising start to Euro 2024 qualifying without their retired talisman.
Bale, the Principality’s record scorer and appearance holder, was in the stands at the Cardiff City Stadium where he addressed fans before kick-off after hanging up his boots.
The former Real Madrid and Tottenham superstar must have been encouraged with Wales’ efforts without him.
Rob Page’s men forced Latvia keeper Pavels Steinbors into a string of superb saves as they surged forward.
Bournemouth striker Moore opened the scoring four minutes before the break with a brilliant downward header after good wing play from Dan James who put over a teasing cross.
Neco Williams also hit the bar in the second half after Steinbors got a hand to his thumping drive from 20 yards.
Wales had to survive a tense finale, though, to deservedly win despite failing to extend their advantage.
But they held out to record their first victory in Group D after their opening draw in Croatia on Saturday.
Page named an unchanged side from that excellent 1-1 draw in Split where sub Nathan Broadhead scored a stoppagetime equaliser.
But the Dragons coach changed his formation to a more attacking 4-2-3-1 line-up against Latvia, who are 133rd in the FIFA world rankings – 105 places below Wales.
Only Lithuania, Andorra, Malta, Moldova, Liechtenstein, Gibraltar and San Marino are ranked lower in Europe.
Wales made a positive start as Latvia keeper Steinbors was forced into a save in the fifth minute to deny Harry Wilson’s left-foot shot from James’ cross.
But the visitors grew into the game and central defender Joe
Rodon needed to make a brave block from Janis Ikaunieks’ shot in the 16th minute.
Home keeper Danny Ward was also called into action to block Marcis Oss’ volley from the resulting corner.
Wales still created chances though as new skipper Aaron Ramsey got more involved in the middle of the pitch.
He did well to pick out 6ft 5in striker Moore with a cross but the striker miscued his header wide.
Yet the Latvians remained dangerous as Vladislavs Gutkovskis tested Ward with a clever flick.
Wales finished the half the stronger side as Moore put a right-foot curling shot wide from the top of the box in the 29th minute.
Nottingham Forest full-back Williams also thumped a rightfoot shot just over from outside the box as did Ethan Ampadu.
Finally Welsh pressure told in the 41st minute when James did well to stand up a cross to the back post for Moore to rise and powerfully head in his 10th international goal.
The hosts then almost doubled their lead in first-half stoppage-time but the brilliant Steinbors stretched to tip a low shot from Wilson around the post.
Wales continued on the offensive after the restart as
Steinbors made an even better save in the 49th minute to superbly tip another right-foot pile-driver from Williams on to the bar.
But the Dragons still needed keeper Ward, who recently lost his starting place at Leicester, to save from centre-forward Gutkovskis after he cut in from the right.
With 17 minutes left, Page sent on Ipswich’s Broadhead, the hero from Split, but he had few chances to shine in front of the 32,806 capacity ground.
Instead, Latvia pressed forward in the closing stages and might have salvaged a shock point had their finishing been more clinical.